ACE is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization working in close partnership
with San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuges. To learn
more, please visit www.usaconservation.org
Start Date: May 14, 2010
End Date: August 7, 2010
Position Description:
San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuges in Southern
Arizona are hosting 12-week Wildlife Biology Internship positions through
American Conservation Experience.
Interns will be engaged in a variety of biological monitoring survey
projects involving native fish, wildlife, and plant species. The
internships will provide excellent opportunities to explore the field of
Wildlife Management and to gain an overview of monitoring processes within
a unique desert ecosystem. Positions are intended for young adults, aged
18 – 35, with educational backgrounds in the Natural Resources and with
interest in utilizing their experiences as a stepping stone to eventual
careers in Resource Management. University students are welcome to apply.
Project Description:
The San Bernardino NWR Complex annually conducts many surveys to monitor
native herpetological, avian, vegetation and fish populations. Interns
will assist professional biologists, conducting wildlife and vegetation
surveys to include, but not limited to; Chiricahua leopard frog
monitoring, burrowing owl monitoring, herpetological inventory, yellow-
billed cuckoo monitoring, and MAPS banding. Interns will be responsible
for collecting data and specimens using provided protocols and entering
information gathered into a database.
Project Location:
The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex is composed of
San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuges. San
Bernardino NWR, located 15 miles south of the town of Douglas, Arizona,
comprises several habitat types interspersed across 2,364 acres.
Prevalent habitat includes Chihuahuan desert scrub, cottonwood-willow
riparian gallery, desert grasslands, and wetlands. Leslie Canyon NWR is
roughly 2,800 acres and is made up of desert grasslands, Chihuahuan desert
scrub, and a unique Ash-Walnut riparian gallery. The San Bernardino NWR
Complex provides valuable habitat to many wildlife species, but the
recovery and protection the native fish of the Río Yaqui and their habitat
are the main objectives of the refuges. The Río Yaqui fish are federally
listed species due mainly to loss of habitat from agricultural use within
the San Bernardino Valley.
Qualifications:
Interns must be physically fit and capable of hiking long distances across
remote, rocky desert terrain in extreme summer heat. The positions are
intended for Interns capable of working in a team in a respectful and
professional manner, yet able to work independently without direct
supervision. Training is provided, but applicants should be fast
learners, able to quickly learn to identify native species by sight and
call. Interns will be required to prepare reports to document their
findings and therefore must be able to express themselves clearly and
professionally in writing. Basic computer skills, including the ability
to use Word and Excel, are required. Interns must have a valid driver’s
license and be willing to undergo a required criminal history background
check. Preference will be given to applicants with an educational
background or field experience in Wildlife Biology, Biology, Botany,
Forestry, Environmental Science, or other natural resource fields. ACE is
appropriate for hard working, positive minded people who want to improve
their career opportunities through diligent hard work.
Training:
Interns will be provided with protocols that outline each of the required
Inventory and Monitoring surveys. Identification guides for local
herpetological species and other wildlife of interest will also be
provided. Interns will be trained in the use of a GPS unit and basic map
use; basic plant identification; and borderland safety.
Compensation:
Interns are provided with a stipend of $110 per week. Upon successful
completion, interns will receive letters of recommendation from both ACE
and US Fish and Wildlife Staff documenting their achievements.
Housing and Transportation:
Free housing in the form of shared accommodations in mobile homes is
provided at Refuge Headquarters, approximately 12 miles from Douglas,
AZ. Work vehicles will be provided by the Refuge, but interns must
provide their own personal transportation for travel to and from town on
off days.
To Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter with three professional references
to Chris Baker at [email protected] with “San Bernardino and
Leslie Canyon Wildlife Intern - ECOLOG referred” in the subject heading of
your email.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2010.
